A relative wails over the death of a loved one while being treated in the parking lot of Ospital ng Binan in Laguna province on August 14, 2021. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — A man suspected of having COVID-19 died in a parking lot in Laguna, as patients have no choice but to wait in a makeshift reception area at Ospital ng Biñan for treatment.
According to medical workers, family members brought the man to the hospital early Saturday, as he was coughing and having breathing difficulties after being sick at home for about two weeks.
The man later died in the afternoon as a relative of the patient was seen wailing, grieving the loss of his life.
The parking lot was recently converted into a makeshift reception area for patients suspected to be with COVID-19 infection. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER
The said parking lot was recently converted into a makeshift reception area for patients suspected to be with COVID-19 infection, as the hospital has reached full capacity for COVID-19 patients.
The man’s death came the same day as the Malacañang announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) extended the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the province of Laguna until August 20 and not just August 15.
The strictest quarantine measure was supposed to end on August 15 in Laguna, as well as in Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro, and then de-escalated to a modified ECQ (MECQ).
The parking lot was recently converted into a makeshift reception area for patients suspected to be with COVID-19 infection. The Malacañang announced the extension of the ECQ in Laguna to Aug. 20. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER
Laguna is currently one of several areas outside Metro Manila placed under ECQ due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases, along with Bataan, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro.
As of August 14, health experts said that the country has recorded a total of 1,727,231 cases of COVID-19 as active cases currently sit at 98,847 and deaths at 30,070.
According to medical workers, family members brought the man there earlier that day, coughing and having breathing difficulties after being sick at home for about two weeks. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER
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